STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY SILVER MEDALLION 1866-1966 HOER IN SOUTH AFRICA

Stellenbosch University Silver Medallion 1866-1966 Hoer onderwyser op Stellenbosch A lovely sterling silver medallion, commemorating the 100 year anniversary of Stellenbosch University in 1966. This is a high quality medallion, with beautiful stylised engraving. The front depicts the "Ou Hoofgebou" (Old Main Building), the oldest building on campus, built in 1886, in Cape classical style, with collonaded veranda and ornamental balcony. This is surrounded with "HOER ONDERWYS OP STELLENBOSCH 1866-1966", translated Higher Education at Stellenbosch. The back has the Stellenbosch University Coat of Arms under "UNIVERSITEIT VAN STELLENBOSCH", this was adopted in 1918, described as "Quarterly: I and IV: Or, three towers gules 2 and 1; II: Azure, the head of the Roman goddess Minerva wearing a winged helmet, argent; III: Azure, three oak twigs each with two leaves below and an acorn above, argent, 2 and 1; Upon an inescutcheon sable, an open book proper, with a red initial letter S in upper dexter, and with two seals, one red and one blue, pendant from the book (source www.andrewcusack.com). The 3 towers comes from the Stellenbosch town arms, originated from the personal arms of Governor Simon van der Stel who founded the town in 1679. Minerva symbolises learning, and the oak leaves and acorns the magnificent oak trees still found in Stellenbosch today. The hallmarks are clear, and include Lions head in U (South African sterling mark post 1948), STG sterling mark, date letter S for 1966 and makers mark SAM for South African Mint.